Published by Herald Democrat
May 8, 2014
More than 1,000 B. McDaniel Middle School students stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the school gym on Tuesday, resolute in their commitment to end bullying at all levels.
More than 1,000 B. McDaniel Middle School students stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the school gym on Tuesday, resolute in their commitment to end bullying at all levels.
Leading the massive rally was a talented young singer and motivational speaker named Lizzie Sider, who was bullied in elementary school but overcame the adversity to become a YouTube sensation for her debut single, “Butterfly.” The lyrics of the song speak to Sider’s triumph over bullying.
Sider engaged B. Mac students at every turn, empowering them to stand up and say no to all kinds of bullying, at school and at home, in neighborhoods and sporting events.
When she asked the kids to raise their hands if they had ever been bullied, the response was an overwhelming majority. Several students took the microphone to talk about why kids bully; others offered ways to overcome the hurt and become a proponent for change.
“It was inspiring to see this mass show of solidarity among our students...against something that negatively affects all of us,” said Principal Alvis Dunlap. “Most of us have felt the sting of bullying at some time in our lives. It is gratifying to see that our kids want to work together to prevent future hurts and to help heal past wounds. These kinds of programs teach our kids that it’s good to speak up...to take a stand against things that are wrong and hurtful. If we all work together and do our part, we can and will put an end to bullying.”